“get those little black bastards out of OUR pool!”

this, more or less, is what the white families (and administration) of the philly-area Valley Swim Club said when a group of day camp students — whose $1900 season membership the Club had readily accepted — showed up for a day of swimming.

according to mother jones:

“When the minority children got in the pool all of the Caucasian children immediately exited the pool,” Horace Gibson, parent of a day camp child, wrote in an email. “The pool attendants came and told the black children that they did not allow minorities in the club and needed the children to leave immediately.”[emphasis added]

didn’t that kind of jim crow bullshit end in the 60’s? after a lot of sacrifice and bloodshed on the part of quite a few people, both black and white. didn’t martin luther king lose his LIFE for fighting to end this kind of small-minded segregation?

unbelievably, john duesler, president of the swim club, released the following statement shortly after ejecting the day camp kids from his establishment:

“There was concern that a lot of kids would change the complexion … and the atmosphere of the club.”

well, at least he’s not pretending that it’s anything other than straightforward old-fashioned racism.that line may yet get him indicted. and i’ve heard that hate mail is pouring in thick and fast to him and the rest of the management of that “if it ain’t white it ain’t right” establishment.

i don’t know if hate mail is going to be much help here, though. they are, already, clearly filled with hate.

here is the letter that i wrote to duesler last night. please do email him your thoughts as well: info@thevalleyclub.com

Dear Mr. Duesler:

Just letting you know that I – and likely several thousand other bloggers – will be writing about the blatantly (and breezily acknowledged) racist practices demonstrated this week at the Valley Swim Club.

This kind of discrimination is, as you must know, against the law. It’s also not a very astute move on the part of the Club, as it has already focused a very negative national spotlight on your activities.

Worse than the illegality of this action is its lack of compassion and broad-sightedness. Your other patrons are “afraid” of allowing their children to swim with black children? Then it was incumbent upon you, as a leader at the Club, to ensure that the environment remained safe for all parties, and to encourage all of the children to mix, mingle and play together.

That is how true leaders help, bit by bit, to improve the world and bring people together. Your actions today were both small-minded and fearful. I invite you to take a bold step into true leadership, welcome the day camp children back to the pool, and throw your authority, personality and staff wholeheartedly into whatever effort it takes to make the integration work.

It might be a whole lot easier than you, or the supposedly terrified white parents, anticipate. Children are not born racists, they are taught to be racists. Don’t be part of that kind of teaching; be bigger than that. You can do it.

Most sincerely,

Jackie Sheeler

haven’t heard back from them yet. but then, they’ve got quite a bit of mail to deal with today. take a minute, and add your voice to the outcry.

Recent Posts:

• “breaking news” – climate change is a problem

bookmark to: